Its crunch time-still have presents to buy?
Here are some simple and inexpensive gift ideas for the plant lovers on your list.
Read Up
Books are always a great gift.
Some great additions to ahouseplant lovers libraryinclude The Houseplant Expert by D.G.
Horticulture is the best of the bunch.
Theres also Garden Gate and Birds and Blooms.
Write It Down
How about a pretty gardening journal?
Theyll be able to keep a record of their plants growth, problems, and more.
Tool Time
Indoor gardeners need tools too!
Most garden centers and catalogs offer sets of tools for houseplants.
They look just like the ones used outdoors, only smaller.
Shelve It
Consider giving a pretty plant rack or hanger.
Plant lovers can never have too much room for their plants.
A small indoor greenhouse would also make a great gift.
Join the Club
A membership in a gardening organization will benefit both the recipient and the organization.
Try theNational Gardening Association,The American Horticultural Society,The African Violet Society of America, and more.
Dont forget local botanical gardens and organizations too-they usually offer special deals for the holidays.
Most gardening catalogs offer them as well.
Some of the best include Logees and White Flower Farm.
Present the certificate with a copy of the latest catalog to make shopping easy for the recipient.
Plant It
Of course, gifts of plants themselves are always a hit with plant lovers.
Avoid florist plants such as mums which are designed to be discarded once they finish blooming.
Also avoid pre-planted dish gardens because they often include plants with very different light and watering requirements.
Instead, buy plants separately and present them in a pretty basket.
Check out our past articles for tips on buying plants.
Share It
One of the nicest gifts a gardener can give is cuttings from their own plants.
